Fastener for pneumatic-despatch-tube covers.



H. C- THIEL.

' FASTENER FOR PNEUMATIC DESPATCH TUBE COVERS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 5. 1914.

1 ,201 ,529 Patented Oct. 17, 1916.

iii/Z7 arr/M- 2: 7 Wm.

S TES I HENRY G. TI-IIEL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FASTENER FOR PNEUMATIC-DESPATCH-TUBE COVERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 17, 1916.

Application filed. January 5, 1914. Serial No. 810,418.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, HENRY G. THIEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fasteners for' Pneumatic-Despatch-Tube Covers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fasteners for pneumatic despatch tube covers, and its object is to provide means for securing the covers to pneumatic despatch tubes, to prevent loss of the contents of the carrier in transit, especially when traveling at a high rate of speed.

The invention also has for its object to provide a carrier having improved means whereby it is given a snug fit in the transmission tube.

In order that the invention may be better understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a despatch tube or carrier; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one end of the despatch tube, showing the cover unfastened, and Fig. 3 is a similar view, showing the cover fastened in place.

Referring specifically to the drawing, the

carrier is a cylindrical tube 5 having a head 6 at one end. The other or rear end of the tube is open, said end being provided with a cover in the form of a heavy leather disk 7. The tube is designed to travel in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. l. The last-mentioned end of the tube carries a soft leather apron 8 for the purpose of making a snug fit in the transmission tube. The apron encircles the cylinder 5 and is cemented or otherwise fastened at one end to the outside thereof, from which it extends flaringly and terminates a short distance from the rear end of the cylinder.

. The cover disk 7 is dimensioned to fit over and cover the open rear end of the tube 5 and it is reinforced by a metal plate 9 secured to its inner face. The disk is carried by a flexible connection in the form of a strap 10, one end of which latter is secured to the outer face of the disk by rivets 11 or other suitable fasteners, the otherend of the strap being secured to the side of the tube 5 by similar fastening means.

Across that portion of the strap 10 which is secured to the outer face of the disk 7 is secured a keeper strip 12 having an arched portion 13 intermediate itsends and spaced from the strap. The strip is secured at its ends to the disk by rivets 14 or other suitable fastening devices.

Diametrically opposite the point of attachment of the strap 10 to the tube 5 is fastened a flexible locking tongue 15, which may be a leather strap. This tongue is adapted to be passed under the arched portion 13 of the keeper strip 12 to hold the disk in closing position on the end of the tube. The free end of the tongue carries a latch device comprising a spring strip 16 extending in the direction of the length of the tongue and secured thereto intermediate its ends as indicated at 17. One end of the strip has an arched upward bend 18, and the other end of the strip has an upward bend 19 to form a spring retaining memher. The ends of the strip are formed with pointed extensions 20, whereby the strip is made fast to the tongue by the extensions being forced through the same. 7

To lock the disk"? after the same is placed over the open rear end of the tube 5, the tongue 15 is slipped under the arch 13 and pushed forward until the spring retaining member 19 snaps behind the same as shown in Fig. 3, the arch now being located between said spring retaining member and the bend 18. The disk is now securely held in place and it will not slip off even though the tube is traveling at a very high rate of speed. Upon pressing down the strip 16, until the spring retaining member 19 clears the arch, the tongue 15 may be withdrawn to release the disk.

The purpose of the part 18 is to provide a finger-hold to facilitate the operation of the latch device. The spring action of the strip is very slight but by pressure with the thumb,the leather parts beneath the same will flex sufliciently to allow the latch to be worked in under the arch.

I claim:

A latch device adapted to be applied to receptacles provided with a cover, and a flexible strap member attached at one-end to the receptacle and at the opposite end to the cover, an arched keeper-plate secured to the outer face of the cover and straddlin the outer endof the strap member, a secon strap member secured at one end to the receptacle and having its free end adapted to be passed across the outer face of the cover and to overlap the outer end of the first mentioned strap member when inserted beneath the said keeper-plate, a latch device mounted on the outer surface at the free end of the second mentioned strap member and formed at its opposite ends with pointed extensions adapted to be driven into the said strap member to resiliently secure the said latch thereon, said latch having longitudi-' nally spaced, outwardly projecting bends, forming a spring retainlng member and a 10 finger hold for facilitating the operation of said spring retaining member, when the same is inserted under the keeper-plate to position the said bends at opposite sides of said plate.

In testimony whereof I ai'fix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY C. THIEL. lVitnesses:

H. G. BATCHELOR,

S. J. LEI-IRER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, 13.0. 

